AV-Comparatives Survey Results - IT Security Survey 2021

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AV-Comparatives published the results of an online survey that took place between December 11, 2020 and December 30, 2020. 2,111 users worldwide answered questions about computers, security products, and information security.

Responses from respondents working in the antivirus industry were filtered. Invalid answers, or respondents who tried to distort the results, were automatically removed (eg by providing impossible / contradictory answers).

Main results:

1. The number of respondents using Microsoft Defender Antivirus (integrated into Windows 10) as a desktop security product a has increased considerably, especially in Asia, according to this year's survey;

2. Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky Lab and Microsoft (sorted alphabetically) are the most popular desktop security products in the world, being the top four products used on all continents (their order is different, however, depending on the continent), with significant results;

3. Worldwide, the most popular desktop security products for Windows platforms used by survey participants are (in order):

• Kaspersky
  
• Bitdefender
  
• ESET
  
• Microsoft
  
• NortonLifeLock
  
• Avast
  
• Avira
  
• Malwarebytes
  
• F-Secure
  
• McAfee
  
• Trend Micro
  
• AVG
  
• Panda
  
• G DATE
  
• Sophos
  

4. Bitdefender is the most popular mobile security solution worldwide. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, ESET, Avast, NortonLifeLock, McAfee, AVG, Sophos, F-Secure and Avira are the mobile security solutions most often used by respondents. 39.3% of respondents stated that they do not use a mobile security solution (!!!);

5. Android remains by far the most popular mobile operating system, being used by over 75% of respondents. In North America, iOS is more popular than in other regions, accounting for about 35%. In Asia and South America, the majority of users (over 80%) use Android;

6. The number of respondents using Windows 10 has increased again this year (over 83% of respondents).  Over 6% of respondents now use macOS, becoming the second most popular operating system. Windows 7 is used by only 5% of respondents;

7. Google Chrome is the browser most used by respondents (35.7%), while the share of those who use Firefox is 33.8%. Microsoft Edge (based on Chromium) is used by 15.6% of respondents (significant increase over last year);

8. About two-thirds of users pay for a security solution. In South America, the number of respondents using a free security solution is about 50%. Free solutions tend to be used more by the younger generation (17-24 years old), while from the older generation (over 55 years old), only about 24% use free versions;

9. 84.2% of survey participants are satisfied or very satisfied with their current security solution;

10. Only 9.1% of respondents wanted automatic renewal when purchasing security software. 60.2% did not want the subscription to be renewed automatically, while 30.7% considered it acceptable for suppliers to offer automatic renewal as long as it was optional at the time of purchase;

11. AV-Comparatives is the testing laboratory in which respondents have the greatest confidence, followed by AV-TEST, MRG Effitas, Virus Bulletin, CheckLab (AVLab), ICSA Labs, MITER Engenuity and SE Labs;

12. Over 50% of respondents use Facebook, followed by Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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